Boiler-feed regulator.



- No. 891.981. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

H. E. GADE 8.: D. R. KNAPP.

BOILER FEED REGULATOR. v

APPLICATION IILBD FEB. 26, 190B.

w-m runs mcinnuamsmxavou UNITED spires Paras passion HOWARD EICADE, OFPENCOYD, AND DAVID R. KNAPP, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA BOILERJFEEDREGULATOR.

- Specification ofLetters Patent.

- Patented .Tune-30, 1908.

Application filed February 26, 1902. Serial No. $17,897.

To all whom it mag/concern:

Be it known that we, HowARn E. Cxnn and DAVID R. KNAPP, citizens of theUnited States, residing, respectively, at Pencoyd, in

the county of lilontgomery, and at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia, both in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful improvements in Boiler-Feed Regulators, whereof thefollowmg is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, and forming part of the specification. Our invention relates tothat class of de vices wherein an expansion tube is connected t0'aboilerat the mean water level and so arranged that when the water in theboiler is at'its normal height, the expansion tube is closed to thesteam space of theboiler by the water in the boiler acting as a seal tothe 2.0 steam to the expansion tube and vice versa, when the water inthe boiler is below normal,

. due to the evaporation of the water, the exansion tube is connectedvto the steam space in the boiler, the diflerence in temperatureof theexpansion tube when open and closed to the boiler steam being utilizedto expand and contract the expansion tube.

It is the object of our invention to provide simple and efficient meansfor automatically B0 regulating the flow of water to a boiler and tothis end our invention comprises devices in cooperative relation withthe said expansion tube whereby a valve on the boiler feed line isopened upon the expansion of said 35 tube and closed upon thecontraction of said tube, also means for the prevention of buckling ofsaid tube upon the expansion and contraction of same.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is 4-0 w an elevation of a boiler,showing our inven tion applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan showing thearrangement of an adjustment bar,

and a bell crank lever to permit the adjustment of the parts.

In Fig. 1,. 16 is a boiler provided with a feed water pipe '17 havinginterposed in same a valve 18 for the control of the water to theboiler.

1 is an expansion tube connected by means of pipell to a gage glass 14at the mean Water level.

121s a pipe leading from the top of the gage glass to the steam space ofthe boiler, so that when the water in the boiler falls below the meanlevel, steam is admitted to the expansion tube by pipe 12, age glass 14and Li} 1 l pipe 11, also wh'eirthe water in the boiler is.-

1 at the mean level, the expansion tubeds closed to steam from theboiler by the water in the gage glass being slightly above the openingto the pipe 11 and consequently ac'ting as a seal to the pipe 11 and 12.

3 is a pipe for draining the water of con densation in the expansiontube 1 back to the boiler and is connected to the boiler below the waterlevel.

In practice pipes 11 and 13 are small in comparison with the expansiontube 1 and are put in place after expansion tube 1 has been connectedand adjusted throughout. The maximum travel of the expansion tube is asmall Fraction of an inch and the length of pipes 11 and 13 and thenumber of bends required to make the said connections enables thesepipes to have SLI'HlGlCIlt flexibility to allow the expansion tube l'toexpand and contract and perform its function. One endol the expansiontube is rigidly conadjustable support 10 mounted on the base 35. Theother'end ol' the expansion tube is free to move and is connected to thepart 9 which is.connectcd to the arm 33 of the bell crank lever 3.

4 is a support pivoted to a rigid block 7 mounted on the base 35 and hasmounted on it the part upon which is pivoted the bell crank lever 3 bymeans of the spindle 26.

2 is an adjustable rod, one end of which is rigidly connected. to thepart 34 which is pivoted by the s )indle 26 on the part5 of the support4. lllie-bell crank lever 3 being also he' other end of the rod 2extends through the support 10 and is threaded and provided with the nut30. By moving the nut 30 along the threaded end of the adjustable rod 2and as the standard 4 is pivoted. to the block 7 an adjustment oftherelation of the parts is effected. The arm 6 of the bell crank lever3 is connected by the link 2a to the arm 22 of the toggle lever 39, theother arm 38 otthe toggle lever being pivotallv 37 and the spindles 28and A valve stem 21 of the check valve 18 is rigidly connected to thecrosshead 20, the check valve pipe 17 to the boiler 16.

is freeto move.

25 is a stop carried by the guide 19 wh1ch nected to the part 32 w lchis pivoted on the 19 are guides upon whicl1 the cross head ivoted on thespindle 26 as shown in Fig. 2.

, connected with the crosshead 20 by the link 18 controlling the ilow offeed water from the I boiler 16 and allows water to be admitted to.

of the bell crank lever 3.

serves to limit the travel of the toggle levers or the crosshead: Thelever arm 22 of the toggle lever 39 is provided with a Weight 23 and isadjustably secured thereon by a set screw or other suitable device, itsfunction being to balance or partially balance the pressure in the pipe17. y v, Tlie arts as shown are such as they occupy w ien the water islow and the valve 18 is opened on the feed line and the action-oftheapparatus is as follows, the adjustment of the parts by the nut 30 onthe rod 2 being effected. The Water being low-and the water seal'beingbroken on the pipe 11 at-the Water gage 14, steam has entered theexpansion tube and caused it to expand due to he increased temperatureof the tube caused by the temperature of the steam. The expansion of thetube moved the lever arm 33 of the bell crank lever B clockwise. aroundthe spindle 2-6 thereby uplifting the arm 6 The uplifting of the arm 6of the bell crank lever 'raised the arm 22 of the toggle lever 39through the link 24, thereby moving arm 38 of the toggle lever 39clockwise around. the s indle 27 and a raised the crosshead 20 and vave" spindle 21 through the link 37. The raising of the valve spindle 21opened the valve 18 to the the boiler.- The water thus admitted willcontinue to rise. in the boiler until the open-. in of pipe. 11-to thegage'glass 14 is closed to the steamspace of the boiler .16" through thepipe 12 by the rise of Water in thegage glass 14 and thus cutting' ofisteam to the expansion tube. The expansion tube being cut ofi from steamhas its temperature decreased causing it to contract and reversing themovement of parts of the ex ansion tube and thereby lowering theCIOSS'iIlG-itd 20 and valve spindle 21 and closing the valve 18 to theadmission of water to the boiler. -The cross head as stated will loweruntil the link .38 engages the stop 25 which prevents any furtherdownward movement. It is necessary to make provisions for counteractingthe tendency of the ex an'sion tube to buckle upon its expansion anhappen if the expansion tube 1 was not adjustably fixed to the sup ort10.

35 being a base located above the boiler is usually of rough surface dueto dirt and aint and it' is obvious that if the angle ormed by base 35and the expansion tube 1 isfixed and cannot be varied considerabletrouble willth'en be experienced in making the connection of part 9 tothe. lever arm 33 of the-bell crank 3. If these connections do notcoincide upon the tightening down of the holding down bolts forthe parts7 and 10 an undue strain will thereby afiect its function upon expansionby further buckling. In order to overcome said toggle levers,

contraction as Wouldbe placed on the expansion tube 1 and cause it tobuckle, and

sane s1 this objection ,a pivot connection is made between the ex ansiontube 1 and the su ortl0-which a lows alirnited change in the angleformed by the base 35 and expansion I tube 1 and consequently a limitedvertical adji'stment of expansion tube 1 can be obtained when thesupport 10 is securely fixed to the base 35. It is obvious that withthis adjustment the base. of'support's 7 and 10 need not lie-in the sameplane, which is desirous in case very uneven base locations areencountered, or structural .work does notpermit. 7

Having thus described the nature and ob jects of our s'aidinve'ntion,'what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a boiler feed regulator of the char acter described in combinationwith a steam boiler and a water gage for same and an expansion tube overthe level of said boiler and a feed Water pipe for said boiler and avalve insaid Water pipean-d toggle levers arranged to operate said valveand means operatively connecting said expansion tube to said levers, astop limiting the travcloi a ipe connection :trom a predetermined waterevel of said gage to said tube, a drain from said tube leading-to theWater in said boiler, substantially "as described.

2. In a boiler feedr'egulator of the character described'in combinationwith a steam boiler and a Water gage for same and an expansion tube overthe level of said boiler and a feed water pipe for said boiler and avalve-in said pipeand a reciprocating cross head attached to the stem ofsaid valve and levers adapted to reciprocate said cross head and a meansoperatively connecting said expansion tube with said levers, a stoplimiting the travel of said cross head,'a pipe connection from apredetermined water level of said gage to said tube, a drain from saidtube leading to thewater in said boiler, substantially as described. 1 5i 3. In a boiler feed regulator of the character described incombination with a steam boiler and a water gage for said boiler and anexpansion tube over the level of said boiler and a feed water pipe tosaid boiler and a valve in said water pipe, and toggle levers connectedat one extremity'with the stem of said valve and an adjustable weight onthe other extremity of said toggle levers, and a means operativelyconnecting said expansion tube with said levers, a stop limiting thetravel of said toggle levers, a pipe connection from a predeterminedwater level of said gage to said tube, and a drain for said tubeleadingto the water in said boiler, substantially as described;

4. In a boiler feed regulator of the character described in combinationwith a steam boiler and a water e for same and an predetermined waterevel of said gage and a drain from said tube leading to the water insaid boiler, substantially as described.

I of said tube and a supp lever and amp ort 5.-In aboiler feed regulatorof the character described in combination with a steam boiler and awater gage for same and an expansion tube over the level of said boilerand a feed water pipe for said boiler and a valve in said water pipe anda reciprocating cross head attached to the stem of said valve,

and levers adapted to reciprocate said cross head and a meansoperatively connecting said expansion tube with said levers and asupport for one end of said tube, a stop limiting the travel of saidcross head, a pivotal support'for the other end of said tube, a pipeconnection from a predetermined water evel of said ga e to said tube,and a drain from said tube eading to the water in said boiler,substantially as described.

'. 6. In a boiler feed regulator of the character described incombination with a steam boiler and an expansion tube over the level ofsaid boiler and a support for one end of said tubeand a lever connectedwith the free end of said tube and a valve in operative relation withsaid lever and a support for the fulcrum of said lever and ameansprovided for automaticall admitting and cutting off steam to said tu e,the first mentioned support pivotally connected to said expansion tube,substantially as described. a

7. In a boilei' feed regulator of the character described in combinatidnwith a steam boiler. and a water age for same and an expansion tube anda ever connecting one end ort for the other end and a valve in operativerelation with said for the fulcrum of said lever and an admstable rod'connecting said supports, said support for the fulcrum of said leverpivotally connected at its base and the other saidsu port pivotallyconnected to said expansion tu lie, said expansion tube located bov'ethe water level of said boiler, a pipe connection from a predeterminedwater level of said gage to said tube and a drain from said tube leadingto the .Water insaid boiler, substantially as described.

8. a boiler feed regulator of the character described in combinationwith a steam boiler and a water gage for same and an exansion tube and afeed water pipe for said oiler and a valve in said water pipe and atoggle lever arranged to. operate said valve and a means operativelyconnecting said exansion tube to said levers, a pivotal support for eachend of said tube, an adjustable rod connecting same, a stop limiting thetravel of said tog le levers, said tube located above the water level ofsaid boiler, a pipe connection from a predetermined water level ofsaidgage to said tube and a drain from said tube leading to the water insaid boiler, substantially as described.

9. In a boiler feed regulator of the character described in combinationwith a steam boiler and a water gage for same and an expansion tube anda feed water pipe for said oiler and a valve in said water pipe and areciprocating cross head attached to the stem of said valve and leversadapted to reciprocate said cross head and a means operativelyconnecting said expansion tube with said levers, a pivotal support foreach end of said expansion tube, a stop limiting the travel of saidcross head, said expansion tube located above the Water level of saidboiler a pipe connection from a predetermined water-level of said gageto said tube and a drv'n leading from said tube to-the water in saidboiler, substantially as described.

10. In a boiler feed regulator of the character described in combinationwith a steam boiler and a water gage for same and an exansion tube and afeed water pipe to said oiler and a valve in said water pipe and togglelevers connected at one extremity with the stem of saidvalve and anadjustable Weight on the other extremity of said togge levers and ameans 0 erative connecting said expansion tube wit 1 said toggle levers,a pivotal support for each end of said tube, a sto limiting the travelof said toggle levers, sai ex ansion tube located above the water level0 said boiler, a pipe connection from a predetermined water level ofsaid gage to said tube and a drain from said tubeleading to the water insaid boiler, substantially as described,

' In testimony whereof we have signed our respective names to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOWARD E. CADE. DAVID R. KNAPP.

